Liverpool Have No Interest In Bringing In This Former Playmaker To Anfield: Is Klopp Making The Right Call?

Philippe Coutinho of FC Bayern Muenchen in action during the DFB Cup round of sixteen match between FC Bayern Muenchen and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Allianz Arena on February 5, 2020 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Bongarts/Getty Images)

According to a recent report by The Daily Mirror, Liverpool have zero interest in reacquiring the services of Philippe Coutinho this summer. The same source has mentioned that the Reds are not planning to bring the Brazilian playmaker back to Anfield despite Barcelona’s willingness to sell him in the off-season.

Coutinho’s Impressive Loan Spell At The Allianz Arena

Coutinho is currently playing on loan at Bayern Munich where he has shown some glimpses of his brilliance this season. However, he is yet to hit top gear in the Bundesliga and has often been inconsistent with his performances this term which explains why the Bavarian giants are not taking up the option to sign him permanently for €120m this summer.

The 27-year-old has scored nine goals and provided eight assists for the German outfit across all competitions so far. The talented dribbler has averaged 2.6 shots, 1.4 key passes and 1.5 dribbles per game in league football this season. However, the Brazilian’s numbers have gone up in the UEFA Champions League where he has averaged 3.9 shots, 1.7 key passes and 2.3 dribbles in every 90 minutes of football (stats via whoscored).

It is evident from his stats that Coutinho can still make an impact at the highest level when the spotlight is on him but needs to find some consistency if he intends to win some silverware in the coming years. On his day, he is a real game-changer as he can create chances out of nothing and is also a potent goal-threat from long range.

Philippe Coutinho of Bayern Munich controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and RB Leipzig at Allianz Arena on February 09, 2020, in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)

What Are The Brazilian International’s Best Attributes?

Coutinho boasts outstanding ball-control that enables him to dribble out of tight areas to either make a dangerous run by himself or set-up a chance for one of his teammates if they are in space in the final third. He is not shy about having a pop at goal and is usually quite accurate with his shot attempts. However, the South American sensation can fade in and out of games which can sometimes make him a liability on the field.

It is safe to say that Liverpool saw the best years of Coutinho a few years ago when he was firing on all cylinders in front of the watchful eyes of the Kop. However, his incredible contributions did not translate to any trophies which could be one of the main reasons why he decided to move to the Nou Camp in a mammoth £142m deal at the start of 2018.

A player of Coutinho’s quality and skillset will always be a welcome addition for any top side in Europe. Jurgen Klopp has sometimes lacked creativity from his midfielders this season with Georginio Wijnaldum, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struggling to cook up scoring opportunities consistently across all fronts.

Therefore, the German head coach should consider orchestrating a move to bring the Brazilian back to Merseyside, but only if he is available for a reasonable price. Otherwise, it makes no sense for the Premier League leaders to go back in for him as they will be better off spending the big bucks on strengthening some of the other areas of their squad.

A 26-year-old sports writer and an aspiring football coach who has road-tripped across the Scottish Highlands, but has never been to Wales. Sucker for cliff-hangers and catchy riffs. Known to be a grunger and not to be a stranger.

A 26-year-old sports writer and an aspiring football coach who has road-tripped across the Scottish Highlands, but has never been to Wales. Sucker for cliff-hangers and catchy riffs. Known to be a grunger and not to be a stranger.

Follow Our Tweets On Twitter

About

The 4th Official is a football blog which focuses on the big stories currently circulating in the world of football.The aim of the site is to provide an unbiased view from a supporters viewpoint on everything football.